Bengal Govt accuses Centre of Jal Jeevan mission fund cut, adds extra ₹1,291 cr to bridge gap

The plan to provide clean drinking water to every household under the Jal Jeevan Mission is being hindered due to insufficient grants from the central government. The state government alleges that the full amount has not been received from the center, which could delay the project's completion target of 2025. In response, the state government has decided to allocate additional funds from its own resources to expedite the project.

The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2019, while its implementation in West Bengal began in mid-2020. The project's progress in the state accelerated from 2021 onwards. Under the scheme, the central government was supposed to contribute 60% of the total cost, while the state government was responsible for the remaining 40%.

For the financial year 2024-25, the central government was expected to allocate ₹5,049.98 crore for the project. However, only ₹2,524.99 crore has been received so far, amounting to just half of the total budgeted amount. On the other hand, the state government had planned a budget of ₹4,990.52 crore for its share, of which ₹3,757.45 crore has already been disbursed.

The state government claims that due to the shortfall in central funds, project execution is being hampered. To keep the work running smoothly, the state has taken an independent step by allocating an additional ₹1,291.38 crore beyond its designated share.

The primary objective of this mission is to ensure clean drinking water supply through tap connections to every rural household. However, the lack of sufficient funding from the central government is causing disruptions. The state government has urged the center to release the full amount to ensure the project is completed within the stipulated timeframe.